Should the Navy court martial stalker astronaut Lisa Nowak for adultery?

Question

Should the Navy court martial astronaut stalker Captian Lisa Marie Nowak for adultery, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder?

Should the Navy also court martial her boyfriend Commander Bill Oefelein for adultery?

Should the Air Force also court martial Captian Colleen Shipman for adultery?

Why do you think that none of these officers are being court martialed?

Remember, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, adultery is a court martialable offense!

Answer 1

If it can be proven that Nowak had an intimate relationship with Oefelein, then yes, under the Code, she should be charged with adultery. Enlisted/Commissioned Men who commit adultery get charged, why shouldn't she? Because she's a blond female?

Ofelein was divorced and did not "commit adultery", even IF he was intimate with Nowak. The married party is the adulterer/ess, the non-married party is simply a low-level creature. According to the reports that I've read, neither is Shipman an adulteress, as she is single.

Answer 2

Military personnel who are assigned duties to NASA as astronauts are still under the provisions and jurisdiction of the UCMJ. There is no specific charge of Adultery listed in the Punitivie Articles of the UCMJ; however, there is an article for "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer." I would think that Captain Nowak's actions most certainly fit this article to a "T." There is also Article 134, which is a general crimes article used to prosecute offenses for which there is no specific article previously listed. Adultery comes under this article. So far, there has been no proven instance of adultery on anyone's part. The news media has only said that the three were "in a relationship," and until the Air Force and the Navy conduct their own investigations, you won't hear anything about it from them. And trust me, there most certainly will be investigations by both the Air Force and the Navy. If the results of the investigations indicate that the officers involved should be court-martialed, then that will most assuredly happen. The only way that these officers can avoid a court-martial is to resign their commissions, and even then the Air Force and the Navy can refuse the resignation and hold them for trial. But I'm guessing that this won't happen; the two services will probobly let them resign. Captain Nowak will be charged and tried by Florida authorities; once that trial is over, the Navy has the option of putting her on trial as well. If she is sentenced to jail by the civilian court, she will either be charged with AWOL or allowed to resign. A sticky situation, but I can just about guarantee that the Air Force and the Navy will do what will be in the best interest of the individual services. Any way you look at it, I have a feeling that all three of them are washed up with NASA, and a side effect of that is that their respective military careers are in the toilet as well. I'd bet that a year from now, all three are out of the service, one will be in jail, and two will be flying commercial airliners. Time will tell.

Answer 3

On the contrary! All of these officers will be made an example of just because of the embarrassment that they have brought to the Armed Forces and to the space program. Believe me, Colleen will feel the wrath from both the military and civilian courts. Because these are two separate jurisdictions, it is not double jeopardy (facing the same charges twice). The public will demand blood and they will get what they want. Especially when the space program depends upon public interest to spur governmental funding. Furthermore, the military can't force anymore humiliation either. Remember tail hook? This scandal will ruin these officer's careers both in the military and civilian world. They are the role models and know better. However, I bet they will not see Leavenworth. What do you think?

Answer 4

Ok first of all, Nowak has bigger things to worry about than a courtmarshal for Adultery. Second, the other two aren't married so no adultery can take place.

Answer 5

Yes they should, but they probably won't.

Those are high ranking officers and normally they will shield from adultery charges. They probably give them a slap on the wrist.

It's likely that they'll go after Novak after this media frenzy and to set a precedent, but they would probally leave Oefelein alone, since there is no evidence of the affair. Even though he is single, he can still face changes of adultery for fooling around with a married woman according to military law. However, under UCMJ you have to have physical evidence of adultery and if they can't prove it, they will leave it alone. He can defend his case by saying that she is a basket case that was stalking him.

Shipman should not be affected, as far as Iknow, she is not married,

Good luck

Answer 6

You can get court-martialed for adultery? Seriously? Attempted kidnapping and murder, I could believe, but not THAT.

Answer 7

I bet the guy doesn't even know her, maybe the other woman too. I wouldn't be suprised if Nowak imagined the whole thing and was just delusional. I bet the other 2 are innocent and were not involved in anything romantic with her or each other.

She's just looney.

Answer 8

I think Nowiak was the only one who thought anything was going on in her crazy head. She should be court martialed and probably will.

Answer 9

Well, then I'd have to go with the Uniform Code of Military Justice if that's what is says. Rules is rules.

Answer 10

No Court martial, but they should send all three of them to the moon.